Abstract

The giant magnetoresistiveeffect recently observed in thin film composites of ferromagnetic particles imbedded in a nonmagnetic metallic matrix offers the possibility that new magnetoresistivesensors can be fabricated using these structures. Here we consider the effects of particle size and shape, magnetocrystallineanisotropy and temperature on the performance and sensitivity of such devices. For the sensitivity required in read elements of high‐performance magnetic heads, severe constraints on the choice of ferromagnetic material and particle size and shape are required.